Exercising device.



W. P. ARMSTRONG. EXERGISING DEVICE.

A'PPLIGATION FILED 1,111.27, 1911` 1,097,628. Patented 0C13.31,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR arm/Wm "75 3 MMQMM' BY W m gym" 6m 11.6RNEYS W. P. ARMSTRONG.

EXERGISING DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED 1111.211911.

1,00?,628, Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'10 mi 30 WITNESSES: INVENTR f 4 @1S-magg UNITED sTATEs ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. ARMSTRONG, OF WASHINGTON. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE STRONG ARM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF VIRGINIA.

EXERCISING- DEVICE.

To all whom. t may concern y Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. ARM- STRONG, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Exercising Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to an improved exercising device particularly adapted for use as an aid to the acquirement of the art of boxing. It is intended as a substitute for punching bags and similar devices, to afford strenuous exercise of substantially the same kind, but combined with additional movements that develop strength, quickness and agility; and it is of such character that as a result of its'close imitation of the form and re-action of a human o ponent itserves not only as an exercising evice, but

also as a dummy figure upon which carefully planned and studied blows and counter-blows may be effectively practiced and developed.

In U. S. Letters Patent No. 952,862, granted me on March 22, 1910, there is disclosed an exercising device of the general character towhich the present invention relates, which device is made up essentially of three elements, namely,` a rocking base, a body portion stuffed or inated and made in simulation. of a human body, and legs fastened to the base and carrying at thelr upper ends a support for the body portion. The dummy 'figure so constructed is an effective exercising device for general use, and is suitable for employment in places of amusement and in the ordinary gymnasium.

The object of the present invention is primarily to vgive to a dummy figure of that general character a new kind and range of movements so as to more completely adapt it for use in training boxers, the reaction of the figure being such that the figure tends to maintain or re ain a fixed upright position with such a egree of persistency as to command the skill of a trained boxer in punching and side-stepping, to avoid quick return movements of the figure, and to per- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led January 27, 1911.

Patented oct. 31, 1911,.

Serial No. 804,941.

mit himy to practice effectively carefully worked out blows and counter-blows.

In the patent above mentioned the base Was so constructed that the figure did not offer suicient resistance to displacement from the upright position, nor did it regain such position so readily upon being struck as to afford the advantages of the present invention in the respects above indicated.

Moreover, in accordance with the present invention, means are provided for limiting, and producing a quick return from, the extreme downward movement of the figure under a heavy blow, and the device is other- Wise perfected in detail.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification Figure l is an elevation of a dummy figure with the base partly broken away; Fig. 2 is a central sectional elevation of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section on a larger scale, showing the lconstruction below the waistline more in detail; Fig. 4 is an elevation of the base partly in section, showing adjustable weights; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the base of Fig. l; Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a central sectional elevation and a bottom plan view of a base having. certain modifications; and Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a base embodying further modifications.

The device consists of a base 1 and a dummy gure 2, which is preferably of the size and proportions of a man, though smaller sizes may be made for the use of boys; and the improved base, and other details, of the present invention are adapted for use in connection with other forms. The figure as shown stands on the base and is composed of a supportingl part 4 comprising the legs, and a body portion 5 which is preferably infiated, though a stuffed body may be used, the body portion preferably being made in simulation of the trunk and head of a man. The legs are preferably made of papiermch, leather or light material of suicient stiffness to retain their shape, and are braced by the wooden disks 6, each leg being supported by an upright bar or rod 7, these bars in the construction shown, being made of ipe sections. For the reception of the en s of these pipe sections the base'.A

contains two sockets 8, fastened to the base conical pins or ex ansion wedges 10. With this combination t e ligure is fastened to the base by dropping the open ends ofthe pipe sections in the sockets over the conical pins, on which they are firmly held by fruition. The figure may, however, be removed from the base by lifting the ends of the pipe sections out of the sockets. The upper ends of the pipe sections screw into sockets 11 fastened at 12 to the disk 15 of wood or metal. The head and trunk of the figure, and the arms if desired are made of any suitable material, such as canvas or leather 14 in one or more pieces sewed together, pulley around the plate 13 and drawn tightly at 15. The trunk and head may be stuffed with padding or the like, but preferably contains a closed air bag 16 of rubber or the like, iniiated at the valve 17 so as to extend the inclosing sack. The air bag is gotten in or out through a slit 18 in the sack, which may be laced as shown in Fig. 3. With this construction the entire trunk and head of the figure may be st-ruck without injury to the hands of the boxer.

The ligure may be dressed to imitate the appearance of a man with shoes 19, stockings 20, and gymnasium trunks 21, while the exterior may be painted as desired to represent characteristic.features lf desired, I may make the body portion of the ligure of a solid construction, as, for example, a suitably molded or shaped block of papier-mch or other a propriate material in which event said bo y is covered with a soft outer covering such as would be aiforded by layers of felt or similar material which would prevent injury to the hands of the boxer.

Although the above constructions may be considerably modified without departing from the essential features of the invention, it will be obvious that the construction shown herein lends itself well to a dummy ligure securely fastened to a basel and presenting to the eXerciser a proper proportion of head and trunk of suificient resiliency and softness to maintain its form and receive the blows without injury to the exerciser.

The new range and character of movements above suggested are attained by means of the novel construction of the base 1, which consists of an outer shell 22 of suitable material such as iron, filled with heavy substance such as iron, lead, stone or the like 23 to give the requisite weight, and closed on top by a plate of metal or wood 24,-. The top plate 24 is fastened to the shell 22 by means of bolts or screws 25. The base may be provided withcups 26 of the desired number and distribution, into which weights 27 may be inserted at the will of the operator, in order to change the weight of the base and modify the movements of the ligure. It is apparent that such adjustab e f ntomas weights may be fastened to the base in any suitable manner, the essential thing being that they shall not become detached at any normal position of the figure and maybe altered at the will of the user.

The rapidity of movement of the ligure, the persistency vwith which it maintains or regains a fixed upright position, and the normal limit of extreme downward movement, are features of great importance, and it is by properly shaping and proportioning the base that the desirable character of these movements, as above suggested, is attained. For the intended purposes it is desirable that under relatively hht blows the figure should rapidly vibrate a out the upright position, and should attain a rolling or oscillating' movement only under a heavy blow, so that under a light leading blow the figure will not be greatly removed from the upright position, and will return very quickly thereto, whereas under a heav blow the igure will be thrown far out of its upright position and will return more slowly, the reaction being thus brought to correspond more closely to the cond1tions of an actual boxing match, and permitting the effective practicing of combinations of blows. To this end the base is provided with a flattened portion 30 of considerable extent, so that any blow which is relativelylight merely tips the base up on the edge of the Hattened portion from which, by reason ofthe weight of the base it quickly returns; and this liattened portion merges into a curved rolling surface as shown so that if a heavy blow is directed to the ligure the base will be thrown beyond the flat onto the rolling surface and the return oscillation will have more nearly the movement of a pendulum until the Hattened portion is again reached, whereupon the figure vibrates rapidly about the upright position, thereby bein brought to rest .much more quickly than is t e case when a base of the form shown in the patent above referred to is employed.

For the purpose of limiting the downward movement of the ligure and causing a rebound or quick return under a knock-out blow, there is provided a projecting lip 31 around the periphery of the base. `This lip may be fastened directly on the top piece 24, as shown, or the effect may be produced by attaching a suitable lip, such as a circular pipe section, to the rim of the base.

The rapidity of the movement-of the figure depends upon the weight and its distribution and further upon the shape of the rounded surface 32 between the flat portion and the projecting li 31. When the figureis struck with su cient impact to move the base olf its flat part 30, the base rolls on the rounded part 32, thereby continually shifting the point of contact, the weights acting downward on the two sides of that point. The figure then continues to roll in its initial direction until the momentum existing in the mass, as a-result of the blow imparted to it, just balances on the two sides of the point of contact. The figure then starts to return and continues lts return movement luntil equilibrium is again produced at some point of contact on the other side of the vertical. If the radius of curvature of the surface 32 is increased, the time of a single vibration is normally increased and the movement becomes less rapid; whereas if the radius of curvature is re- 'duced the time of vibration is reduced and lating movement on the return, will be carried over the fiat, and will be gradually reduced in its extent by friction until the m0- mentum of the moving mass is insufficient to force the ligure over the flat portion, when it quickly sett-les to rest in a fixed upright osition. In the construction of the present lnvention this oscillating movement back and forth across the flat on to the rounded surface at opposite sides of t-he base, is much more quickly chan ed into the vibratory movement due to t e flattened portion of the base, than is the case in the prior patent above referred to, and the liveliness and substantial similarity to the actual conditions of a boxing match is thereby greatly increased.-A The rounded surface 32 extends entirely around the base, so that the oscillating movement is not confined to any one plane but circular or twisting movements may occur simultaneously with the rolling movement.

If the gure be struck with suflicient force to roll it over until the projecting lip 31 comes into contact with the ioor, the downward movement is suddenly arrested and the gure is caused to rebound to the upright position.

In Figs. 6 and 7 there is illustrated an arrangement in which the rolling surface of the base is provided with balls 28, in radiating channels 29, or according to any other arrangement, for the purpose of increasing the rapidity and range of movements by decreasing the friction at the roll'- ing surface, if such increased rapidity and range is desired.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8, the base 35 is formed of a cast metal shell heavily loaded at the bottom and provided with thin side walls 36. The top plate of the previously described forms is omitted and the base is so shaped as to afford a solid portion 37 depressed below the top edge of the base, for the connection of the legs 7.

In other words, the bottom portion of the shell is made considerably thicker than the side portions and the top of said bottom portion serves to support the gure more or less directly. The base 36 is preferably cast in interlocked relation with a block 38 which is suitably formed to receive and position the legs of the ligure, prior to the incorporation of said block in the main portion of the base by the aforesaid castingo eration. In the embodiment shown, t e block 38 is provided with spaced sockets in its upper surface in which coil springs 39 are secured at one end, the opposite ends of the springs being free. The tubular leg rods or bars 7 are secured to the base simpl by litting them over these springs, to whic they closely conform, said rods or bars being maintained at the proper distance from each other by means of a plate 40 having openings through which said rods-are passed and which lies on the top face of the block 38. The size of the recesses in block 38 are such that the bars 7 are-capable of lateral movement in all directions, such movement being transmitted to the legs simultaneously by means of the connecting plate 40. By arranging the springsl in the manner claimed, the figure can obviously be given a slight rocking or yielding movement with respect to the base, under the action of the blows given it, and the springs thereby have a cushioning effect which will be readily understood. In order to deaden the noise occasioned by the rockin of the base, and to obtain quick returns o the latter, I may associate a yielding or elastic cushioning giember with the upper edge portion of the ase. A

In the drawing, I have shown a rubber cushioning member 41 of annular form held in a groove at the outer upper portion of the base in such a manner as to contact with the floor when the base is rocked to and fr0 to the extent permitted by the ordinary use of the contrivance. In Fig. 2, I have shown diagrammatically a contrivance which may be used to advantage when the exerciser is exhibited at theati-ical erformances.

It Wlll be readily understood from the foregoing description that the dummy figure is readily detachable from its base and that risin movement of the dummy ligure. The bewilerment or a parent bewil erment of the boxer, as the gure is caused to disappear quickly in a vertical direction as he 1s prepared to strike it, will obviously create considerable amusement among the spectators.

What I claim is:-

1. In an exercising device of the character described, a dummy figure, and a base therefor having a rolling surface, a portion of said surface being fiat so that the figure ersiste'ntly tends to maintain or re am a gxed position; substantially as descri ed.v

2. In an exercising device of the character described, a base having a peripheral projecting lip which tends to llmit the downward movement; substantially as described.

3. In an exercising device of the character described, a base having a Hat portion on its under surface, va projecting li -near its outer .periphery and acurved sur ace connecting the fiat portion and the stantially as described. o

4. In an exercising device of the character described, a base having a fiat portion on its under surface, a projecting lip near its outer periphery, and curved surfaces of diering radii connecting the fiat portion and the projecting lip; substantially as described.V

5. In an exercising device of the character described, a base, and a device on the .base for attachment of weights, said device comprising a cup set in the top portion of the base; substantially as described.

6. In an exercising device, a rocking bas and a dummy figure fastened thereto, the base having a fiat portion on its under surface so that the figure persistently tends to maintain or regain a fixedv position; substantially as described.

7. In lan exercising device, a base and a dummy ligure fastened thereto, the base having a peripheral projecting ylip which tends to limit the downward movement of the figure; substantiall as described.

8. In an exercising evice, a base and a dummy figure :fastened thereto, the base having a at portion on its under surface, a projecting lip near its outer periphery and a curved surface connecting' the fiat portion and the projecting lip; su 'stantially as described.

9. In an exercising device, aV base and a dummy fi re fastened thereto, the base having a at portion onl its under surface,

projecting lip; subv 11: In anexercising device, a rocking'- base, and a dumm figure resiliently supported thereon; su stantially as described. 12. In an exercising device, a rocking base movable freely over the floor, a dummy figure having depending leg rods, and springs connecting the lower ends of said rods with the base; substantially as described. 13. In an exercising device, a frocking bowl-like base having sockets at its upper part, coiled springs rising in said sockets, and a dummy figure having tubular leg bars tting at their lower ends over said springs andmovable laterali in the sockets; substantially as describe 14. In an exercising device, a bowl-like rocking base having an annular cushioning member extending around the outer surface of the upper edge portion of said base; subl stantially as described.

15. In an exercising device, a rocking base comprising a bowl-likel body havin a thickened bottom portion, and a block aving means forthe attachment of a dummy figure and about which said body is cast in interlocked relation; substantially as described.

16. In a device such as described, the combination of a base, a dummy figure sup rted thereon and freely removable there om in a vertical direction, and means for elevating the figure from the base; substantially as described.

'17. In a device such a's described, the combination of a base, a dummy figure supported thereon and freely removable therefrom in a vertical direction, and a counterweight having a connection with said figure by which the latter is raised away from the base; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature, 1n presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM P. ARMSTRONG. 

